1.Inhibition of Angiogenesis by Sanguisorbae Radix and Sophorae Flos in Ulcerative Colitis Mice by Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Yuzhuo WEI ; Li LIU ; Shu BU ; Yongqi WANG ; Zhiwei MIAO ; Yi XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):40-50
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of action of the combination of Sanguisorbae Radix-Sophorae Flos (DH) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) using network pharmacology methods and molecular docking technology. MethodsNetwork pharmacology analysis was utilized to predict the potential targets of DH for the treatment of UC. The therapeutic effects were experimentally validated by inducing a UC model in mice with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The experimental groups were the normal group, the model group, the salazosulfapyridine group (100 mg·kg-1), and the low, medium, and high dose groups of DH (1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 g·kg-1). The efficacy of the treatment was assessed through the general condition of the mice, histopathological examination, and the expression levels of inflammatory markers in the colon. The effect of DH on angiogenesis was explored by messenger RNA (mRNA) detection of colonic angiogenesis-related mediators, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunohistochemistry, microvessel density (MVD) detection, and transmission electron microscopy. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway proteins were quantitatively analyzed through Western blot to assess whether the suppression of pathological angiogenesis by DH is associated with this pathway. ResultsNetwork pharmacological analysis yielded 112 potential core therapeutic targets for the treatment of UC with DH, of which the core targets were tumor protein 53 (TP53), JUN, interleukin (IL)-6, Akt1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Compared with the normal group, mice in the model group showed significant weight loss, colon shortening, and high DAI score, increased expression of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, as well as increased mRNA expression levels of angiogenesis-related mediators VEGF, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), angiotensin 1 (Ang1), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9. The positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue increased, and the protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway was increased (P<0.05). The endothelial cells of the colonic mucosa and the colonic vasculature were severely damaged. Compared with the model group, mice in the DH groups had significantly reduced weight loss and colon shortening, lower DAI scores, and a significant decrease in mRNA expression of inflammatory factors and angiogenesis-related mediators. In addition, there was decreased positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue and decreased protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway (P<0.05). ConclusionNetwork pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation are applied to explore the mechanism of action of DH in the treatment of UC, and it is found that DH is able to improve the symptoms of colitis and inhibit the pathological angiogenesis in UC mice. Its action might be related to affecting the PI3K/Akt pathway.
2.Inhibition of Angiogenesis by Sanguisorbae Radix and Sophorae Flos in Ulcerative Colitis Mice by Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Yuzhuo WEI ; Li LIU ; Shu BU ; Yongqi WANG ; Zhiwei MIAO ; Yi XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):40-50
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of action of the combination of Sanguisorbae Radix-Sophorae Flos (DH) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) using network pharmacology methods and molecular docking technology. MethodsNetwork pharmacology analysis was utilized to predict the potential targets of DH for the treatment of UC. The therapeutic effects were experimentally validated by inducing a UC model in mice with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The experimental groups were the normal group, the model group, the salazosulfapyridine group (100 mg·kg-1), and the low, medium, and high dose groups of DH (1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 g·kg-1). The efficacy of the treatment was assessed through the general condition of the mice, histopathological examination, and the expression levels of inflammatory markers in the colon. The effect of DH on angiogenesis was explored by messenger RNA (mRNA) detection of colonic angiogenesis-related mediators, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunohistochemistry, microvessel density (MVD) detection, and transmission electron microscopy. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway proteins were quantitatively analyzed through Western blot to assess whether the suppression of pathological angiogenesis by DH is associated with this pathway. ResultsNetwork pharmacological analysis yielded 112 potential core therapeutic targets for the treatment of UC with DH, of which the core targets were tumor protein 53 (TP53), JUN, interleukin (IL)-6, Akt1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Compared with the normal group, mice in the model group showed significant weight loss, colon shortening, and high DAI score, increased expression of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, as well as increased mRNA expression levels of angiogenesis-related mediators VEGF, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), angiotensin 1 (Ang1), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9. The positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue increased, and the protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway was increased (P<0.05). The endothelial cells of the colonic mucosa and the colonic vasculature were severely damaged. Compared with the model group, mice in the DH groups had significantly reduced weight loss and colon shortening, lower DAI scores, and a significant decrease in mRNA expression of inflammatory factors and angiogenesis-related mediators. In addition, there was decreased positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue and decreased protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway (P<0.05). ConclusionNetwork pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation are applied to explore the mechanism of action of DH in the treatment of UC, and it is found that DH is able to improve the symptoms of colitis and inhibit the pathological angiogenesis in UC mice. Its action might be related to affecting the PI3K/Akt pathway.
3.Mechanism of Total Saponin of Astragali Radix and Total Alkaloids of Nelumbinis Folium Against Hyperlipidemia Based on PPARγ/LXRα/ABCG1 Signaling Pathway
Yufang ZHANG ; Jian CHEN ; Yixin ZHANG ; Sitong LI ; Yafen WANG ; Yongqi ZHANG ; Cheng SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(13):37-44
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of the combination of total saponin of Astragali Radix-total alkaloids of Nelumbinis Folium on reversal cholesterol transport (RCT) in hyperlipidemia rats, and to discuss its mechanism. MethodSixty SD rats were randomly divided into control group, high-fat diet group, total saponin of Astragali Radix-total alkaloids of Nelumbinis Folium low (17 mg·kg-1+40 mg·kg-1), middle (34 mg·kg-1+80 mg·kg-1), high dose (68 mg·kg-1+160 mg·kg-1) groups and simvastatin (2.1 mg·kg-1) group, with 10 mice in each group. The Hyperlipidemia model was duplicated by feeding rats with a high-fat diet for 6 weeks. From the 3rd week, except for the control group and the high-fat diet group given distilled water, other groups were given corresponding drugs intragastric treatment for 4 weeks. The changes in blood lipid and liver function of rats were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and oil red O staining were used to observe the pathological morphological changes and steatosis of rat liver tissue. The contents of total cholesterol (TC) and total bile acid (TBA) in rat liver tissue and feces were determined by a semi-automatic biochemical analyzer. The mRNA and protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors γ (PPARγ), liver X receptors α (LXRα), ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in rat liver tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot. ResultCompared with the control group, the contents or activities of TC, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), TBA, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the contents of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the high-fat diet group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The hepatocyte was clearly swollen like ballooning degeneration, with a lot of fat vacuoles and red fat droplets. The contents of TC and TBA in liver tissue and feces were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ, LXRα, ABCG1, and CYP7A1 in liver tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the high-fat diet group, the contents or activities of TC, TG, LDL-C, TBA, AST, and ALT in the serum of rats in administered groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the content of HDL-C was significantly increased (P<0.01). Hepatocyte swelling was significantly reduced, and the ballooning degeneration, fat vacuoles, and red lipid droplets in liver tissue were significantly decreased. The contents of TC and TBA in liver tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the contents of TC and TBA in feces were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ, LXRα, ABCG1, and CYP7A1 in liver tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionTotal saponin of Astragali Radix-total alkaloids of Nelumbinis Folium has a positive effect on the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia rats, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of PPARγ/LXRα/ABCG1 signaling pathway and regulation of RCT.
4.Astragali Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma Inhibits Metastasis of Lewis Lung Cancer in Mice via C5a/NETs Pathway
Peiyu TIAN ; Hongyang YU ; Xiao LI ; Luhang YU ; Ziqiao YAN ; Yongqi DOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(14):27-36
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms of Astragali Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma (HQ-EZ) in alleviating hypercoagulability and inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis by modulating the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via the complement component 5a (C5a)/C5a receptor (C5aR) pathway. MethodForty male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into four groups: Blank, model, HQ-EZ (8.2 g·kg-1), and PMX53 (1 mg·kg-1). The mouse model of Lewis lung cancer was established in other three groups except the blank group. Mice were administrated with corresponding drugs from day 3 after modeling. Specifically, the HQ-EZ decoction was administrated for 14 consecutive days, while intraperitoneal injection of PMX53 was implemented on days 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15. Mouse body weight and tumor diameter were measured every two days. On the next day of the last administration, lung microCT was performed to observe the tumor metastasis in vivo. Blood samples were collected from the eyeball after anesthetization, and tumor and lungs were collected after the mice were sacrificed. Tumor weight was measured to calculate the tumor growth inhibitory rate. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of C5a, neutrophil elastase (NE), citrullinated histone-H3 (Cit-H3), myeloperoxidase (MPO), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), NETs, von Willebrand Factor (vWF), tissue factor (TF), and P-selectin in the serum and tumor tissue. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling was conducted to assess apoptosis in the tumor tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted to observe lung metastasis, and immunofluorescence (IF) was employed to observe the expression of NETs in the tumor tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of C5aR, MPO, and Cit-H3 in the tumor tissue. ResultCompared with the blank group, the model group had nodules in the lung, increased areas with low X-ray transmittance, appearance of nodular foci and multiple hemorrhagic foci in the lungs, and darkening lung color. Furthermore, the modeling elevated the serum levels of C5a, NETs and related proteins, vWF, TF, and P-selectin (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, HQ-EZ and PMX53 reduced the lung metastases, areas with low X-ray transmittance, and nodules in the lungs and lightened the lung color. Compared with the model group, the two drug intervention groups showed flat tumor growth curves, decreased tumor weight (P<0.01), increased apoptosis of tumor cells (P<0.01), lowered levels of C5a, NETs and related proteins, vWF, TF, and P-selectin both in the serum and tumor tissue (P<0.05), and down-regulated protein levels of C5aR, MPO, and Cit-H3 (P<0.05). ConclusionHQ-EZ inhibited the expression of NETs by suppressing the C5a/C5aR pathway, thereby alleviating hypercoagulability and inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis.
5.Benefit finding experience in maintenance hemodialysis patients:a qualitative research
Yanlin GONG ; Xinyue GAO ; Jing CHEN ; Lingling LIU ; Jing WU ; Yongqi LI ; Jing CHU
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2024;59(2):164-169
Objective To illuminate the benefit finding experience of maintenance hemodialysis patients,and to provide a reference for promoting their mental health.Methods From March to May 2023,the purposive sampling was used to select 13 maintenance hemodialysis patients in a tertiary hospital in Shanghai for semi-structured interviews.The data were organized with the help of Nvivo software,and the Colaizzi's seven-step method was used to analyze the data.Results 3 themes were extracted:①the search of meaning,including approved hemodialysis,the desire to live;②gaining a sense of mastery,including adjusting self-psychology,developing healthy living habits,and learning hemodialysis related behavior management;(3)self-enhancement,including excavating external resources and affirming self-worth.Conclusion Maintenance hemodialysis patients have benefit finding experience in many aspects.Medical staff can guide patients to carry out positive psychological construction by strengthening disease knowledge education,building a psychological mutual assistance platform,forming a multidisciplinary nursing team,excavate and provide effective social support resources,and cultivate patients'self-health management,so as to improve the level and ability of benefit finding of patients,experience positive incentives,promote physical and mental health,and improve the quality of life of hemodialysis patients.
6.Analysis of in Vitro Activity and Mechanism of Dunhuang Yifang Daxiefei Decoction on Pneumonia Based on Chemical Bioinformatics
Jia LIN ; Xiaojie JIN ; Chenghao LI ; Ruifeng WANG ; Yehu HOU ; Yixi ZHANG ; Hao LIU ; Min ZHANG ; Juan YAO ; Jintian LI ; Yongqi LIU
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(7):871-886
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effectiveness, potential mechanism and compatibility characteristics of efficacy groups of Dunhuang medical prescription Daxiefei decoction in preventing and treating pneumonia based on chemical bioinformatics method.
METHODS
To study the effect of Daxiefei decoction freeze-dried powder solution on the proliferation activity of lung epithelial cells through cell experiments. Daxiefei decoction was divided into three groups: clearing away heat group, resolving phlegm group, and nourishing Yin group according to its efficacy characteristics. The chemical components of Daxiefei decoction were obtained by TCMSP database and literature search, and the targets were predicted in Swiss Target Prediction database. Pneumonia disease targets were obtained by DrugBank, TTD, Genecards and DisGeNET databases. STRING database and Cytoscape were used to construct the intersection target interaction network and "drug-component-target- pathway" network and DAVID database was used for KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The network was used to analyze the scientific connotation of the compatibility of efficacy groups. Furthermore, molecular docking was used to evaluate the target-compound affinity and molecular dynamics was used to explore the dynamic molecular mechanism.
RESULTS
Cell experiments showed that Daxiefei decoction can maintain the proliferation of lung epithelial cells, reverse the decrease of mitochondrial activity induced by LPS and reduce apoptosis. Complex network analysis showed that the pathways enriched by the three functional groups contained in Daxiefei decoction were mainly distributed in two modules: inflammation regulation and reducing airway mucus hypersecretion. Each module was connected by a common target gene and had its own focus. The results of molecular docking showed that the components quercetin, baicalein, isorhamnetin etc. might be the effective multi-target components of Daxiefei decoction. SRC, EGFR, PPARA etc. had good affinity with each potential active component, which might be a potential target of Daxiefei decoction for preventing and treating pneumonia. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the potential active component quercetin formed stable intermolecular interactions with SRC.
CONCLUSION
This study initially reveal the material basis and molecular mechanism of Daxiefei decoction in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia. It also explores the scientific connotation of Daxiefei decoction in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia with different efficacy groups, and its modern development and clinical application provide chemical bioinformatics basis.
7.A single-center retrospective study of salvage allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation pretreated with MeCBA regimen for refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia
Fangfang YUAN ; Yongqi WANG ; Minghui LI ; Gangping LI ; Ziye LI ; Ruihua MI ; Qingsong YIN ; Yuewen FU ; Xudong WEI
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2024;45(5):500-504
Thirty refractory relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) patients who received salvage allo-HSCT with MeCBA conditioning regimen from January 2018 to June 2022 at Henan Cancer Hospital were included, and their clinical data were reviewed. There were 16 males and 14 females among the 30 patients with a median age of 37 (16-53) years. There were 3 sibling allograft donor transplants, 1 unrelated donor transplant, and 26 haplotype transplants. The median course of pre-transplant chemotherapy was 4 (3-22). The time of neutrophil engraftment was 14 (9-22) days and 18 (10-40) days for platelet. The 30-day cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment was 100% and the 100-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment was 96.7% (95% CI 85.4% -97.5% ). 22 (73.3% ) patients experienced grade 1-2 gastrointestinal reactions, and there was no grade 3-4 organ toxicity. With a median follow-up of 37.1 months, the overall survival (OS) rate, event-free survival (EFS) rate, cumulative recurrence rate (CIR), and non-recurrence mortality (NRM) rate at 3 years after transplantation were 70.0% (95% CI 50.3% -83.1% ), 65.3% (95% CI 44.8% -79.8% ), 21.2% (95% CI 9.2% -44.4% ) and 16.7% (95% CI 7.3% -35.5% ), respectively.
8.Multidimensional screening of Astragalus membranaceus small molecules to mitigate carbon ion radiation-induced bystander effects
Zhang LIYING ; Zhang YIMING ; Li YANGYANG ; Li QIYANG ; Zhang SHANGZU ; Miao ZHIMING ; He JINPENG ; Zhou TING ; Yang GENGQIANG ; Wang XIN ; Wang JUFANG ; Liu YONGQI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(10):1531-1534
Existing studies have shown that Astragalus membranaceus(AM)and its active ingredients astragalus polysaccharides,oninon,and astragalus methyl glycosides can attenuate X-ray radiation-induced injury.However,there are no studies on how isoliquiritigenin(ISL)attenuate the bystander effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)induced by carbon ion radiation therapy for lung cancer.This study aimed to investigate the AM-derived small molecule ISL to enhance radiotherapy sensitivity by attenuating the carbon ion radiation-induced bystander effect(RIBE)in BMSCs to elucidate its mecha-nism of action.In this study,we established a C57BL/6 mouse lung cancer transplantation tumor model in vivo and a co-culture model of A549 cells and BMSCs in vitro,and the models were successfully treated with carbon ions.In further work,we used flow cytometry,immunofluorescence,Western blot,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),inhibitor,short hairpin RNA(shRNA),Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8),and other methods to illustrate the mechanism.In the next experiments,we found that ISL combined with carbon ion radiotherapy had a significant anti-tumor effect and protected BMSCs from radiation damage.The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of ISL in enhancing the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to radiotherapy and attenuating RIBE in both in vitro and in vivo settings.Traditional Chinese medicine combined with radiation therapy is a promising and innovative treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.These results establish a theoretical foundation for further clinical development of ISL as a potential radiosensitizer option.
9.Research progress on standardized training for midwives
Xuemei LI ; Yongqi LI ; Hui JIANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(1):129-133
Standardized training for midwives is an effective way to improve the core competency of midwives, which plays an important role in strengthening the construction of midwife talent team in China, improving the quality of midwifery and ensuring the safety of mothers and infants. This article summarizes the current situation of standardized training (cycle, content, methods and assessment methods) and proposes countermeasures and suggestions to provide reference for strengthening and improving standardized training for midwives in China.
10.Research progress on current situation and intervention strategies of self-reported hypogalactia in parturients
Xuemei LI ; Yongqi LI ; Hui JIANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(15):2083-2088
This paper reviews the concept, evaluation tools, current situation, influencing factors, and intervention strategies of self-reported hypogalactia in parturients, aiming to provide reference for medical and nursing staff to identify self-reported hypogalactia in parturients in the early stage and intervene in a timely manner.


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